NO PLAYS EXCHANGED 


lational Copyrighted (in England, her Colonies, and 
tates) Edition of the Works of the Best Authors 


No. 363 


LOVE’S SERVICE FLAG 


A COMEDY IN TWO ACTS 


PS 3503 
.0527 
L6 
1918 
Copy 1 


BY 


HILLIARD BOOTH 


Copyright, 1918, By Samuel French 


AMATEURS MAY PRODUCE THIS PLAY WITHOUT PAY¬ 
MENT OF ROYALTY. ALL OTHER RIGHTS RESERVED. 


PRICE 25 CENTS 


New York 
SAMUEL FRENCH 

PUBLISHER 

28-30 WEST 38th Street 


London 

SAMUEL FRENCH, Ltd. 
26 Southampton Street 
STRAND 













LOVE’S SERVICE FLAG 


A COMEDY IN TWO ACTS 


BY 

HILLIARD BOOTH 

it 


Copyright, 1918, By Samuel French 


AMATEURS MAY PRODUCE THIS PLAY WITHOUT PAY¬ 
MENT OF ROYALTY. ALL OTHER RIGHTS RESERVED. 



New York 

SAMUEL FRENCH 

PUBLISHER 

28-30 West 38th STREET 


London 

SAMUEL FRENCH, Ltd. 
26 Southampton Street 
STRAND 




P5 3503 

) ^ 1 S' 





AUG -9 1918 

©cm 50129 




LOVE’S SERVICE FLAG 


CHARACTERS 


Mrs. DeWitt Raleigh 
Madeleine Raleigh.. 

Faith Evans. 

Letetia Butts. 

Fifi D’Anvers. 

Martha Dawson . .. :. 

Clara.... 

Major Anderson. 

Gerald Van Zandt. .. 


.A Society Woman 
. . . .Her Daughter 
Madeleine’s Friend 

. A Spinster 

. From France 

.. .. A Widozv 

. A Maid 

.An Army Surgeon 
;. A Collegian 


SYNOPSIS 

Act I: Living-Room in the DeWitt Raleighs’ 
Home. 

Act II: The Same. Afternoon of the same day . 
Place: A Suburb of New York City . 
Time: A Day of the Present. 


y 


3 













NOTES ON CHARACTERS AND COSTUMES 


4 


Mrs. DeWitt Raleigh. A handsome, middle- 
aged matron, dressed youthfully in a fashionable 
house-gown. A woman of refinement. 

Madeleine Raleigh. An attractive girl of twenty 
years, independent in spirit. In Act I she wears 
first an afternoon frock, and later an army uniform 
of khaki. During Act II she dons the costume of 
Columbia. 

Faith Evans. A pretty girl of eighteen years, 
frivolous and light-headed, but lovable. She wears a 
street-dress, with hat and coat. 

Letetia Butts. An elderly and unattractive spin¬ 
ster, who wants to mother the whole U. S. Army. 
She wears glasses. She dresses in a fussy, but 
unbecoming dress, and wears hat at entrance. 

Fifi D’ Anvers. A chic and charming French 
girl of sixteen years; speaks with a French accent. 
She wears an extremely modish skirt with very 
short skirt. Wears a large picture hat at entrance. 
During Act II she dons a costume representative of 
France. 

Martha Dawson. A poor, middle-aged widow 
with an etherial face. She wears shabby black 
and a shawl. She has a medal pinned on her 
waist. 

Clara. A young and attractive Irish house-maid. 
Wears maid’s dress of black, with white cap and 
apron. At the end of Act II she appears in a yellow 
silk dress and plumed hat. 

Major Anderson. A good-looking and serious- 
minded man of thirty years. He wears the regula¬ 
tion U. S. Army uniform of khaki. 

Gerald Van Zandt. A boyish and likable fellow 
of twenty-one years. Wears a sack suit in Act 
I, and in Act II a sailor-suit. 


4 


4 


LOVE’S SERVICE FLAG 


ACT I 

Scene : Living-Room in the DeWitt Raleighs'' 
home. An attractive and well-furnished room. 
Door l. from hall; door r. to other rooms . At 
rear a window overlooks the street. A long 
table at center, bearing zvool, bandages and 
other material of the Red Cross workers. Red 
Cross placards hang on the wall at rear. A 
desk at l. front bears a telephone. Six chairs. 
In the window hangs a service-flag with one 
star. Morning. Full light. 

Discovered: Clara, a small package in her hand, 
stands rearwaving her handkerchief from win¬ 
dow. As she blows a kiss through the window, 
Madeleine DeWitt enters r. and sees her. 

Madeleine. Clara! 

Clara. It’s Joe I’m waving to, Miss Madeleine; 
it’s me Joe. (She holds up the package) See, he’s 
brought us another pound of sugar. 

Madeleine. I don’t know what we’d do for 
sugar if you hadn’t made a conquest of the grocer’s 
young-man, Clara. This sugar shortage is abom¬ 
inable ! 

Clara. Joe’s promised to bring a pound of sugar 
every other day, ma’m. 

Madeleine. Three pounds a week! Splendid! 

Clara. Oh, there’s plenty of sugar where there’s 
true love, Miss Madeleine. 

5 





6 


LOVE'S SERVICE FLAG 


(A bell rings.) 



Madeleine. Answer the bell. 

Clara. Yes’m. ( She sighs deeply and exits l.) 

Madeleine. True love! It’s scarcer than sugar ! 
(She takes a letter from the table and puckers her 
brow as she tries to read it. Faiti-i Evans runs 
in l. with knitting-bag) 

Faith. Am I the first one here, Madeleine? 

(Puts bag on table) 

Madeleine. Yes. We don’t begin our Red 
Cross work until ten, Faith. 

Faith. I came early. I want your advice. I’m 
in trouble. 

Madeleine. So am I. Llere’s a letter from my 
brother—somewhere in France—and the Censor 
has slashed it so, I can’t make head nor tail of 
it. 

Faith. I don’t see how you stand the strain of 
having a brother in the army,—and in France. 

Madeleine. Why, Faith! How do you expect 
to stand the strain of having your fiance in France? 
Major Anderson sails this week, doesn’t he? 

Faith. That’s it, Madeleine, I can’t stand it! 
I want to break my engagement with Major Ander¬ 
son. 

Madeleine. ( Shocked) Faith! You don’t 

mean that! 

Faith. No, I don’t! I mean—I want you to 
break mv engagement for me! 

Madeleine. No, thanks! Wait a few days, 
Faith; think this over. 

Faith. I can’t wait! Gerry says he’ll enlist in 
the navy if I don’t accept him this afternoon. 

M adeleine. Gerry ! So there’s another man ! 

Faith. Well—you-see—of course there is! Ger¬ 
ald Van Zandt. 

Madeleine. That boy? 



LOVE’S SERVICE FLAG 


7 


Faith. He’s twenty-one, and—Oh Madeleine, 
I’m not the wife for Major Anderson, truly I’m 
not. Mother and the moonlight simply threw me 
at his head. I’d known him only a week and I 
haven’t seen him for three months! When you 
meet Major Anderson you’ll reahze how unsuited 
we are for one another. He’s coming here to-day, 
Madeleine. 

Madeleine. Does Gerry know you’re engaged 
to Major Anderson? 

Faith. No, and he mustn’t; I told Gerry he was 
the first man I’d ever Jdssed! Please talk with 
the Major, Madeleine, and persuade him to re¬ 
lease me. 

Madeleine. No. Take my advice, and wait! 

Faith. I told Gerry that if he enlisted, I’d 
never marry him. Gerry says he’ll enlist if I don’t 
accept him this afternoon. I can’t accept him until 
I’ve broken off with Major Anderson. And I 
haven’t the courage to face Major Anderson! 

(Clara enters l., followed by Gerald Van Zandt.) 

Clara. Mr. Van Zgndt. (Clara exits l. as 
Gerald crosses to Faith) 

Gerald. Look here, Faith, you left your house 
by the back door,—that wasn’t fair! You promised 
me your answer to-day; give it to me. 

Faltii. This afternoon! I can’t give you an 
answer before. 

Gerald. Why not? (Faith points to Madel¬ 
eine; Gerald turns and secs her) Oh, good morn¬ 
ing, Miss Raleigh, I didn’t see you. 

Madeleine. I surmised as much! Can you 
make out this letter? It’s from my brother in 
France. 

Gerald. (Takes the letter ) Lord, I wish I was 
with the boys in France! (Reads) “Am sending 


8 


LOVE’S SERVICE FLAG 


you a—” blank, slash—“ which I captured.” Blank, 
slash, “ souvenir ”—blank, slash, “ trust in your 
hands.” / have it! He’s sending you a souvenir 
which he captured in battle,—a German helmet, 
probably, and he wants you to take good care of 
it. 

Madeleine. I suppose that’s it. 

Gerald. Faith, why don’t you want me to en¬ 
list? 

Faith. I should die a dozen deaths a day think- 
in 0- of your danger. 

Gerald. Then you do love me? 

Faith. No, no, That is,—I’ll give you your an¬ 
swer this afternoon! 

Clara. ( Enters l.) Major Anderson has called. 

Faith. ( Panic-struck sits down, rises, trembles) 
Madeleine, I feel faint—your room—may I powder 
my nose? Oh, Heavens! ( She rushes out r. as 
Major Anderson enters l. Clara exits l.) 

Madeleine. How do you do, Major Anderson. 
I —(She looks at Gerald and smiles) I hardly 
know what to say ! 

Gerald. My name is Gerry Van Zandt. What 
can we do for you? 

Anderson. I came here to see my fiancee. (He 
crosses to Madeleine) 

Gerald. Your fiancee? Here? (Smiles sud¬ 
denly) Oh, I say, Miss Raleigh—congratulations! 
You and Major Anderson engaged! You’re a deep 
one, all right. What a dolt I am to stay here in the 
way. Two’s a company, three’s a crime! You’ve 
won a blue-ribbon, Major! Congratulations, con¬ 
gratulations ! (He laughs, holds up both hands in 
blessing and exits l. Madeleine, angry, stamps 
her foot) 

Anderson. Why didn’t you deny it? Why did 
you let him think we were engaged ? 

Madeleine. Forgive me, please! I—I can’t 


LOVE’S SERVICE ELAG 


9 


explain. Only don’t think I want to be engaged to 
you. 1 don’t. (As he smiles at her) Why didn’t 
you denv it? 

1 Anderson. Oh—er—1 thought it might be a case 
of love at first sight. 

Madeleine. Did you? Well, I don’t expect to 
be able to detect love till I’m gifted with second- 
sight ! I wasn’t trying to win you from Miss 
Evans. 

Anderson. Then you know of my engagement 
to M iss Evans ? 

Madeleine. Faith is my best friend. She’s here, 
Major Anderson, but she’s very much upset. We 
have our Red Cross meeting this morning. If you 
could return in half an hour-? 

Anderson. With pleasure. Tell Faith I called. 
(Crosses to door , l.) 

Madeleine. Major Anderson, may I warn you, 
in ali kindness, to be prepared for a great shock? 

(Clara enters l.) 

Clara. Miss Letetia Butts. (As Anderson turns 
to door l v Letetia enters l.) 

Letetia. A soldier! (She takes both his hands) 
Have you a Mother? 

w/ 

Anderson. Madam, I have, I have! (Frees 
himself, speaks aside to Madeleine) I got the 
shock, all right! 

Letetia. I’ve adopted ten boys in the army and 
six in the navy, but 1 have enough letter-paper and 
woolen-yarn for a few more. I write letters to 
cheer their lonely hearts, and knit socks to warm 
their chilly feet. My only -regret is that I’ve never 
seen any of my boys; I’ve adopted them all by cor¬ 
respondence. 

Anderson. Madam, your correspondence-course 
in motherhood is a patriotic performance; I com¬ 
mend it. 




10 


LOVE’S SERVICE FLAG 


Letetia. If only I could meet one of my boys; 
but a cheery smile helps, even when absent. 

Anderson. (Looks at her as she smirks) Es¬ 
pecially when absent! 

Madeleine. Our Red Cross Chapter has adopted 
a baby by wireless ,—a French orphan; we expect 
it next week. 

Anderson. Bravo for the Chapter! In half an 
hour, then. 

Madeleine. Clara, Major Anderson is leaving. 

Clara. This way, sir. (Clara exits l. followed 
off by Anderson) 

Letetia. Tom—he’s one of my boys—promised 
to come and see me when he got leave from camp. 
r hope his eyes are brown. (She simpers) Made¬ 
leine, do you think I might kiss Tom? 

Madeliene. You might,—it depends upon how 
agile Tom is! 

(Faith looks in from R.) 

Faith. Bias the Major gone? 

Madeleine. For half an hour. (Faith enters r. 
she and Madeleine look at Letetia, as Letetia 
holds up a gray sock and sighs) 

Letetia. No, I hope Tom’s- eyes are gray: then 
they’ll match his socks. 

Madeleine. (Aside to Faith) Miss Butts 
wants to meet one of her adopted sons,—she shall! 
I’ll put on that old uniform of my brother’s and 
introduce myself as Tom! 

Faith. Pass yourself off as a soldier? What fun 
—until Miss Butts finds you out! 

Madeleine. She won’t find me out. Don’t let 
her go until I appear. I’ll slip away presently. 
(Looks r. as a voice sounds off-stage) Mother! 
What is it? 


LOVE’S SERVICE FLAG 


n 


( Mrs. Raleigh enters r. — an open telegram in her 

hand.) 

Mrs. Raleigh. The French baby has arrived! 
It reached New York last evening, and they sent it 
out by train this morning,—to my husband’s office ! 

LetetiA. Our Red Cross baby! Have you the 
crib ready, Mrs. Raleigh? 

Mrs. Raleigh. My husband absolutely refuses 
to have the baby in this house. 

Madeleine. I’ve argued with Father by the hour, 
‘—he won’t let us keep the baby here. 

Faith. Some-one must take the baby! 

('Telephone rings ; Mrs. Raleigh answers it.) 

Mrs. Raleigh. Hello. (To the others ) It’s my 
husband. (In phone ) Oh! Is it crying? (To 
others) The baby’s there—at my husband’s office. 
(In phone) Oh, DeWitt! My dear! You will? 
—Send it here at once. (Hangs up receiver) My 
husband says I can keep the baby here! He says 
it’s the prettiest little thing he ever saw. The baby 
has won my husband’s heart! He says he won’t 
let anyone else have it. DeWitt is kindness itself! 

Letetia. That’s settled! Go and hunt up your 
old toys, Madeleine, the baby must have something to 
play with. 

Madeleine. I will. '(Aside to Faith) And I’ll 
come back as soldier Tom! (She exits R. with a 
laugh) 

Faith. Now to work! (The three sit at the 
table) 

Mrs. Raleigh. I called this special meeting to 
devise a method for swelling the Red "'Cross funds. 
I don’t believe we’re a quorum, but I’m sure every¬ 
one will agree with whatever we decide. I suggest 
that we have a play. 


12 


LOVE’S SERVICE FLAG 


Letetia. I think tableaux would be more pop¬ 
ular : famous women or patriotic groups. I’ll do 
my bit,—either as Columbia or Cleopatra! 

Faith. Why not have a bazaar, and sell kisses 
at five dollars each. That always brings the men, 

Letetia. (Simpers ) Don’t you think five dollars 
is rather high? 

Faith. That all depends! But tableaux are 
more fun. I second the tableaux. 

Mrs. Raleigh. It’s agreed, then,—we have 
tableaux ! Women In War. 

Letetia. Splendid. We can curtain off that 
part of the room ( points R.) and have the tableaux 
here. Can we rehearse this afternoon, Mrs. Ral¬ 
eigh ? 

Mrs. Raleigh. If you wish. And we can sell 
tea and cake. 

Letetia. Tea? Where will we get the sugar 
to sweeten it? 

Mrs. Raleigh. We have plenty of sugar. Clara, 
the maid, is receiving the attentions of the grocer’s 
young man, so our supply of sugar is regular and 
assured. I can let you and Faith have what sugar 
you need, Letetia. 

(Clara enters l. angry. Stops, hands on hips.) 

Clara. Mrs. Raleigh, ma’m. If I’m to be an¬ 
noyed by the grocer’s young man, I’ll have to leave. 
Joe’s at the back door again, and he won’t go! 

Mrs. Raleigh. Clara ! I thought you and Joe 
were as good as engaged. 

Clara. We were! I saw him kissing the 
Simpkins’ girl. It’s all off between us. I’ve told 
him never to speak to me again. ( She folds her 
arms) 

Mrs. Raleigh. (Rises) If you break with Joe, 
we won’t get any more sugar! I mean you must be 
sensible, Clara: forgive joe. 


LOVE’S SERVICE FI .AG 


^3 


Faith. (Rises) Yes, I’m sure it wasn’t his fault. 

Lf.tetia. (Rises) Forgive him for the sake of 
the Red Cross tea, Clara. 

Clara. (As the three surround her, urgent) The 
.Simpkins’ girl indeed ! 

Mrs. Raleigh. It’s your duty to forgive him: 
Foe’s a man in a thousand. Didn’t he explain his 
action ? 

Clara. He said he kissed the Simpkins’ girl be¬ 
cause I refused to give him a kiss! She has red 
hair, too ! 

Faith. Then you're to blame, Clara, for re¬ 
fusing to kiss loe. What harm is there in a kiss ?. 

Letetia. None at all! A kiss sweetens life just 
as sugar sweetens tea. 

Mrs. Raleigh. Love is the sugar of existence, 
Clara; we can’t get along without sugar ,—1 mean, 
w’Miout love. 

Clara. (Wipes eye with apron) You’re right, 
ma’m; Joe’s a sweet man. 

Faith. The sweetest man I ever heard of! 

Letetia. Ask him to forgive you, Clara. 

Mrs. Raleigh. Tell him we can’t get along' 
without—er—without having him happy. 

Clara. I will, ma’m, I’ll tell him he can have 
one little lump of a kiss if he never looks at the 
Simpkins’ girl again. But if he doesn’t forgive 
me, ma’m ? 

Mrs. Raleigh. Then your life will he as bitter 
as our tea! 

Clara. (Calls off ) Joe! Joe, me lad! (She 
exits l. The other three cross to door l., listening , 
A pause. Then the smack of a kiss sounds off¬ 
stage. All three smile, relieved, and speak at once.) 

Mrs. Raleigh, Faith and Letetia. Sugar! 

Mrs. Raleigh. Our supply of sugar is safe! 

(As thev move hack to the table, Martha Daw- 

*■ • 


1 4 


LOVE’S SERVICE FLAG 


son enters l. with a package in her arms. She 
stops by the door. The others see her, sur¬ 
prised.) 

Faith. What can we do for you, my good 
woman ? 

Martha. I beg your pardon: I’m Mrs. Daw¬ 
son. I live down on Depot Street. 

Mrs. Raleigh. Oh, yes, your husband worked 
for us before he died. Have vou something to 
sell ? 

Martha. I’ve brought some scarfs and sweaters 
that I knit for our boys in France. I thought you 
might send them with those the Red Cross is send¬ 
ing. ( She lays package on table) 

Faith. How fine of you! Of course we’ll send 
them. 

Mrs. Raleigh. How did you ever get time for all 
this work? 

Martha. I made time. ( Looks rear) I see you 
have a service-flag. 

Mrs. Raleigh. My son is with the American 
forces in France. Stay and work with us, Mrs. 
Dawson. 

Letetia. We're working hard, too; we’re get¬ 
ting up tableaux—Women In War. 

Martha. Women in war! What a big part our 
women play in the war. Next to the men on the 
fighting line they render the greatest service our 
country receives,—the service of love: unselfish 
love. The love that gives without stint, without 
question, without regret. I think of women’s work 
in war as symbolized by a great flag, a flag spangled 
with millions of stars,—Love’s service-flag. 

Faith. Love’s Service-Flag! 

Letetia. A splendid title for our tableaux! 

Martha. At night I see the flag in the star¬ 
lit heavens, a flag that reaches from one end of the 


LOVE’S SERVICE FLAG 


\ 


15 


country to the other,—and every twinkling star is 
a woman’s service,—the sacrifice of self—or hus¬ 
band—or son.' ( Her voice breaks and she sinks to 
a chair. Clara enters l.) 

Clara. Mother of Heaven, the French baby’s 
here! 

Mrs. Raleigh. Our Red Cross baby! Get the 
crib, the toys, Clara. 

Letetia. Is it a boy or a girl ? 

Clara. It’s a girl. It’s name is Fifi! 

Faith. Fifi! Bring the baby in! 

Clara. She’s bringing herself in! 

Faith, Mrs. Raleigh and Letetia. What? 

Calra. Miss Fifi D’Anvers. (Fifi enters l. 
and looks from one to the other as Faith, Mrs. 
Raleigh and Letetia 'gasp with astonishment) 

Fifi. It is I—your lettle Fifi! 

Mrs. Raleigh. Fifi? (Sits down suddenly) 

Faith. Our Red Cross baby! (Laughs) 

Letetia. There’s some mistake. 

Fifi. Non, non, I come all ze way from France to 
leeve weeth you! Wheech one of you is my Ameri¬ 
can Mama? (She approaches Letetia with out¬ 
stretched arms. Letetia dodges around the table 
and points to Mrs. Raleigh) 

Letetia. It’s Mrs. Raleigh you’re to stay with I 

Fifi. (To Mrs. Raleigh) Je vous airne, je vous 
adore! My American Mama! (She throws her 
arms about Mrs. Raleigh and kisses her) 

Mrs. Raleigh. (Frees herself, upset) You 
can’t stay here, itV- of the question. 

Faith. Your husband said she could stay here, 
Mrs. Raleigh, he said he wouldn’t let her stay any¬ 
where else! 

Letetia. He called her the prettiest little thing 
he ever saw! 

Faith. She won his heart, you said so! 

Letetia. Yes,—your husband is kindness itself! 




16 


LOVE’S SERVICE FLAG 


Mrs. Raleigh. (To Fifi) There’s been a mis¬ 
take; they were to send .us a baby. 

Fifi. Non, there ees no mistake. I am your 
babv. Do you not recognize me ? T’twitt, t’witt! 

Mrs. Raleigh. What does she mean? 

Letetia. She thinks she’s an owl. 

Fifi. Non, non, not ze owl! T’witt, t’witt! 

Faith. T’witt, t’woo! 

Ftfi. Oui, oui,—t’woo. T’twitt! 

Mrs. RalEigit. (Aside) She’s out of her head. 

Martha. She’s trying to tell you something. 
Perhaps she is hungry. (To Fifi) Avez votts faim, 
ma cherie? 

Fifi. J’ai faim pour l’amour! 

Faith. She hungers for love! 

Clara. Mother of Heaven ! 

Martha. She means mother-love. 

Mrs. Raleigh. How do we know what kind of 
love she means ? One never knows about these 
French girls. We must investigate her antecedents 
before we accept her as our protegee. 

Letetia. Decidedly. I must safe-guard Tom’s 
moral welfare! 

Faith. Why, she’s nothing but a child, Mrs. 
Releigh. (To Fifi) Don’t distress yourself, Fifi* 
you’re among friends. 

Fifi. (Dabs eyes with handkerchief) T’witt, 
t’witt! 

Letetia. There she goes again! 

Mrs. Raleigh. You’re tired after your long trip. 
Clara, take Miss Fifi into the dining-room and see 
that she has something to eat. 

Fifi. Mon Dieu, eef I am among friends, why 
does not my American Mama lock me to her heart 
wiz ze passionate rapture, smother me weeth af¬ 
fection on her welcoming heart? Mon Dieu, I die 
weeth despair! T’witt, t’witt! (She sobs and exits 

to 


LOVE’S SERVICE FLAG 


17 


Letetia. I’ll watch her. ( She exits l.) 

Clara. ( Flaps her arms like an owl’s'wings) 
T’witt, t’woo: t’witt, t’woo! ( She exits l.) 

Mrs. Raleigh. (To Martha, as Martha starts 
to no) Don’t leave, Mrs. Dawson: you can help us 
with the costumes for our tableaux, if you will? 
Come upstairs. 

Martha. I’ll be glad to help, Mrs. Raleigh. I’m 
sure Miss Fifi is nothing but a baby at heart. 

Mrs. Raleigh. That remains to be seen! (She 
exits r. followed off by Martha. Faith laughs 
and straightens the things on the table. Madeleine 
enters r. dressed in a khaki uniform, with puttees 
and service-hat. Faith looks up, startled) 

Faith. Oh! What do you want? 

Madeleine. I’m Private Tom come to see Miss 
Letetia Butts. 

Faith. Madeleine! (Laughs) Miss Letetia’s 
in the dining-room; I’ll get her. She’ll be in the 
seventh heaven of delight! 

Madeleine. Yes. Tell her sonny Tom is here, 
impatient to meet his darling war-mother. 

( Faith starts l. Major Anderson’s voice sounds 

off-stage.) 

Anderson. ( Off-stage ) Miss Evans is expect¬ 
ing me. 

Faith. (Alarmed) It’s Major Anderson! (She 
runs to door R. Madeleine stands in front of door, 
barring the way) Let me by! Quickly! 

Madeleine. No. Stay and face him. You can’t 
escape this time. / won’t break your engagement 
for you. Faith, and break his heart as well. Do 
it yourself ! 

Faith. Never! (She dives under the table 
where she is hidden by the cloth, just as Major 
Anderson enters l. He speaks as he enters) 


18 


LOVE’S SERVICE FLAG 


Anderson. Don’t announce me. Mot here. 

Hello, who’s this? # 

Madeleine. (Gruffly) P m Private Join, I be¬ 
long to Miss Letetia! 

Anderson. Indeed! (He crosses to Madeleine) 
Well ? 

Madeleine. Well ? 

Anderson. You’ve got your nerve with you! 
Madeleine. That’s the truest thing you ever said. 
Anderson. (Angry) Salute your superior offi¬ 
cer ! 

Madeleine. Oh! Salute you? 

Anderson. Yes, salute me! Do you want to be 
sent to the guard-house? What camp were you 

trained in? v ; • , 

Madeleine. You needn’t be so unpleasant about 

it! 

Anderson. Unpleasant? Ha! That’s good! 
Salute your superior officer, do you hear? (He 
grips her arm) 

Madeleine. Ouch! (She salutes quickly and 
turns on Anderson as he releases her) There, I 
hope you’re satisfied, because now I’m going to 
break your heart! You deserve to have it broken, 
you brute! 

Anderson. You dare? (He starts toward her, 
angry . Madeleine runs around the table to escape 
him. Letetia enters l. Madeleine runs to her for 
protection, getting behind her) 

Madeleine. I’m Tom, Miss Letetia, I’m your 
Tom ; save me ! 

Letetia. Tom! (To Anderson) Stop! You 
shan’t touch mv Tom, my army son! 

Anderson. If the fellow doesn’t mind his tongue, 
he’ll be dismissed from the service. (Letetia puts 
her arms about Madeleine. Mrs. Raleigh and 
Martha enter r. and stop, shocked) 

Mrs. Raleigh. Letetia Butts! 


LOVE’S SERVICE FLAG 


19 


Letetia. It’s Tom! 

(Clara hurries in l. excited.) 

Clara. Miss Fifi’s going on something awful 
-about love; she won’t eat a thing. Here she comes. 

(Fifi enters l.) 

Fifi. Non, non, you do not love me, I go back 
to la belle France unless— (She breaks off with a 
startled scream as she sees Madeleine) Ah, eet 
ess my soldier, my lover; my lover, my adored one! 
(She runs to Madeleine, throws both arms about 
her and kisses her. Letetia tries to pull Fifi away 
from Madeleine as Mrs. Raleigh throws up her 
hands with horror) 

Mrs. Raleigh. This is the innocent baby! 

Letetia. Leave Tom alone,—Tom belongs to 
me! 

{Faith, interested, looks out from under the table. 

Gerald Van Zandt enters l. hat in hand. 

Fifi still embraces Madeleine.) 

Fifi. My soldier, my lover; my lover, my fiance! 
(Madeleine attempts to free herself; her hat falls 
off and her hair falls down over her shoulders , 
Fifi releases her, astonished) 

Letetia. (Shocked) Madeleine! 

Fifi. A girl! 

Anderson. Ye gods! 

Gerald. (To Fifi) Your fiance? It’s Major 
Anderson’s fiancee! 

Mrs. Raleigh. What do you say? My daughter 
engaged to Major Anderson? 

Gerald. Yes,—a secret engagement! 


20 


LOVE’S SERVICE FLAG 


(Eaitii, angry, climbs out from under the table as' 
Madeleine stutters a protest.) 

Anderson. Faith! 

Faith. (To Madeleine) So this is your 
friendship! You’ve been engaged to Major 
Anderson all along! 

Anderson. Faith, I can explain. Listen to me. 

Faith. Don’t speak to me! (She flouts An¬ 
derson and crosses to Gerald) 

Anderson. (Turns angrily to Madeleine) Tell • 
Miss Evans the truth! 

Madeleine. I feel faint — I (She reels. Ander¬ 
son catches her in his arms as her senses leave her) 

Mrs. Raleigh. It is true! Bless you, dear chil¬ 
dren, bless you! (She raises her hands in blessing 
over Anderson arid Madeleine; Anderson, help¬ 
less, mutters an oath as he supports Madeleine’s 
limp form. Fifi, tearful, crosses to Martha as 
Letetia picks up Madeleine’s service-hat and 
presses it to her heart. Gerald puts his arm about 
Faith, and Clara, at rear , raises her hands in as¬ 
tonishment) 


Curtain. 


ACT II 

Scene: The Same. Afternoon of the same day. 
The big table has been removed, and draw cur¬ 
tains have been hung across the stage at rear, 
on a line back of the two doors. The curtains 
are drawn back by means of a cord at r. and 
open to either side with the effect of a theatre 
curtain „ 



LOVE’S SERVICE FLAG 


21 


Discovered : Major Anderson and Madeleine 
Raleigh seated center in earnest conversation, 
.Madeleine wears her own dress again. The 
curtains at rear are pulled open, showing the 
full depth of the room. 

Anderson. Now that I’ve spent half a day in 
your company, I wish it zvere true, I wish we really 
were engaged. 

Madeleine. Do you want to break Faith's 
heart ? Faith believes in you implicitly. If you cease 
to care for her, she may do something desperate. 

Anderson. Do you think so? 

Madeleine. I’m sure of it. I’ve told everyone 
our engagement was camouflage; now you must 
make it up with Faith. 

Anderson. I’m not the husband for Faith Evans, 
really I’m not, Miss Raleigh. Her mother made 
the match. I can’t believe Faith will be anything 
but relieved when I ask her to release me,—for 
that’s what I’m going to do. And then—what will 
you think of me? 

Madeleine. As a soldier or a diplomat? 

Anderson. As a prospective husband. 

Madeleine. I haven’t any prospective husband. 

Anderson. Every girl has ! 

Madeleine. I’ve made up my mind never to 
marry. 

Anderson. I accept that challenge. As soon as 
I’m free to do so, I shall take you in my arms and 
capture you with a kiss. 

Madeleine. Indeed ! (She rises with a stamp of 
her foot) In that case I shall take good care not to 
be left alone with you; for a man who would deliber¬ 
ately crush the heart of an innocent and trusting girl 
like Faith Evans is capable of anything! (Faith 
enters r. At the sight of Anderson, but Madeleine 
catches her by the arm and whispers in her ear) 


22 


LOVE’S SERVICE FLAG 


He loves you madly, Faith; don’t break with hint. 

Faith. (Lozv to Madeleine) I must break with 
him or I’ll lose Gerry. 

Madeleine. Careful, he may do something' 
desperate. {Aloud) I know you two have some¬ 
thing important to say to each other; I’ll leave you 
alone. {She exits r. with a laugh. Anderson and 
Faith, both anxious to break their engagement, but 
each afraid to hurt the others feelings, regard one 
another, embarrassed ) 

Anderson. Faith. 

Faith. Major Anderson. (A pause. Then 
both speak together) 

Anderson and Faith. I have something to say 
to you 1 , 

Anderson. {Clears his throat after another 
pause) Sit here. 

Faith. Thank you. {She sits herself uneasily) 

Anderson. What would you do if you lost the 
man you loved devotedly? 

Faith. I should die of grief! 

Anderson. Great Heavens! 

Faith. But I’m not going to lose him ! 

Anderson. No, no, of course not. {Aside) I’m 
afraid to ask her to release me! 

Faith. What would you do if the girl you loved 
turned against you ? 

Anderson. I should be embittered for life! But 
she’s not going to turn against me! 

Faith. No, no, of course not. {Aside) I’m 
afraid to break our engagement! {Aloud) Do you 
believe in long engagements ? 

Anderson. I think the shorter ours is, the better ? 

Faith. {Alarmed) Promise me one thing. 
Major Anderson; promise me you won’t pick me up 
and run away with me. 

Anderson. I promise! I promise gladly I 


LOVE’S SERVICE FLAG 


23 

Faith. I suppose—I suppose I ought to reward 
you with a kiss. 

Anderson. A kiss ? Oh yes, you mean—you 
mean—a kiss. {He nears Faith slowly. Faith. 
shuts both eyes and screws up her features as if 
about to take a dose of bitter medicine. Anderson 
wipes his brow, hesitates, then leans toward Faith 
' gingerly. As he is about to kiss her, Gerald Van 
Zandt enters l. wearing a naval uniform. Ander¬ 
son and Faith separate quickly as Gerald speaks 
sharply) 

Gerald. Major Anderson! This is the girl I 
hope to marry! (Faith runs to Gerald with a 
cry of relief) 

Anderson. You hope to marry? Faith, you care 
for this man? 

Faith. Yes. Please don’t do anything desperate ! 

Anderson. {Laughs with relief) Ha, ha,—I 
could dance a break-down! 

Faith. What, you’re glad ? 

Anderson. It’s a great disappointment to find 
you love another, but—where’s Miss Raleigh? 

Faith. You care for Madeleine? 

Anderson. Yes. Please don’t do anything des¬ 
perate! {Laughs and calls off) Miss Raleigh, 
Madeleine. {He exits R.) 

Gerald. You will marry me, Faith? 

Faith. Yes. {She slips away from him as he 
starts to embrace her) But why are you wearing 
that uniform? Are you trying to frighten me? 

Gerald. Eve joined the navy, Faith. 

Faith. Then I won't marry you! You must 
choose between me and war, I told you that! 

Gerald. Do you want a coward for a husband ? 

Faith. No, but I’d rather have a coward than a 
corpse! Can't you get out of enlisting? 

Gerald. I might, I don’t know. It will be worse 
than death to lose you, Faith. 



24 


LOVE’S SERVICE FLAG 


Faith. You must choose between me and war 1 
Gerald. I love you more than all the world. 
Faith, but I’m going to war. 

Faith, Never speak to me again! Not a word! 
You don’t love me, that’s the truth! When the 
submarines get you, Gerald Van Zandt, you’ll think 
of me and be sorry! (Fifi D’Anvers enters l. 
Faith looks at her ) But no doubt Fifi will console 
you,—she adores men who fight? 

Gerald. Great idea! How about it, Miss Fifi ? 

(Faith, angry, stamps her foot and goes , rear) 

Fifi. Non, non, ze only soldier I adore ees een 
France; I weesh to go back to him, but Mrs. Raleigh, 
she declare I ’ave much to learn and zat I shall 
stay here and go to school. 

Gerald. School ? What school ? 

Fife One zat she calls ze reform-school. What 
kind of a school ees zat? 

Gerald. It’s—it’s a sort of a finishing school! 

(Letetia Butts enters r. with a large French flag 

in her hands.) 

Letetia. Now to rehearse our tableaux. You 
shall impersonate France, Fifi. (She drops the 
French flag about Fifi’s shoulders; then pulls the 
curtain cord , so that the curtains run together , shut¬ 
ting off the rear of the room , and Faith, from 
view) This does nicely as a stage, Faith. (She 
steps between the curtains and out of sight) 

Fifi. ( Posing in the flag) How do I look, 

Meester Gerry ? 

Gerald. Good enough to kiss! (He tip-toes up 
behind her to kiss her. Letetia looks out from 
between the curtains) 

Letetia. Run upstairs, Mr. Van Zandt, and 


LOVE’S SERVICE FLAG 


25 


help Mrs. Raleigh bring down the costumes. (Ger¬ 
ald noas and goes r. At door he blozvs a kiss to 
Fifi. Fifi stamps her foot. Gerald exits r. Let- 
etia comes out from behind the curtains. Fifi 
removes the French flag from her own shoulders 
• and drapes it about Letetia) 

Fifi. Eet ees you who should be la belle France, 
Miss Butts, you ’ave ze so majestic figure! 

Letetia. You really think so, Fifi? (She poses 
in the flag. Fifi slips between the curtains and 
out of sight. Gerald enters r. with an armful of 
costumes. Letetia has her back to him. Gerald 
thinks the flag-draped figure is Fifi. He tip-toes 
up behind her, leans over quickly and kisses Letetia 
on the check. Just as he does so, Mrs. Raleigh, 
Madeleine and Martha Dawson enter r. carrying 
flags and costumes for the tableaux, and Faith 
and Fifi come out from between the curtains. They 
all laugh as Gerald recognises Letetia and stag¬ 
gers back) 

Letetia. Mr. Van Zandt! Gerry! 

Gerald. Miss Letetia! 

Mrs. Raleigh. What does this mean? 

Letetia. (Simpers) Can it have any but one 
meaning ? 

Gerald. No. It means I want Miss Butts to 
be a mother to me! A war-mother! 

Letetia. (Disappointed) Was that what you 
meant ? 

Madeleine. Lie’ll take Tom’s place, Miss Butts. 
Now for Love’s Service-Flag,—our series of tab¬ 
leaux. All ready, everybody. (Madeleine, Mar¬ 
tha, Fifi and Gerald step behind the curtains and 
out of sight. The telephone rings. Letetia an¬ 
swers it) 

Letetia. Hello—It’s for Clara. (She calls off 
l.) Clara! (Clara enters l. and takes the phone) 
(To Mrs. Raleigh) Joe’s promised me five pounds 


26 


LOVE’S SERVICE FLAG 


of sugar to-morrow, Mrs. Raleigh! (In phone) 
Hello.' Who is it?—Mrs. Brown?—Oh, that’s fine! 
Just hold the line a bit and I’ll tell ye. (To Mrs. 
Raleigh) Mrs. Brown’s offering me five dollars 
more a month if I’ll leave here and go to work for 
her! 

Mrs. Raleig'ii. Leave here? Clara, we can’t lose 
you! 

Letetia. Not with five pounds of sugar due to¬ 
morrow ! 

Faith. (Aside to Mrs. Raleigh) Mrs. Brown 
has learned that Clara’s young man works for the 
grocer. 

Mrs. Raleigh. (Aside to Faith) I pay Clara 
all she’s worth, but we need the sugar! (To Clara) 
You’ve given such faithful service, Clara, that I 
shall raise your wages six dollars a month. Tell 
Mrs. Brown that you intend to stay here. 

Clara. Mrs. Brown says her kitchen is much 
nicer to receive my young man in; and her work 
isn’t as hard, either. You couldn’t give me that 
yellow silk dress of yours, ma’m, could you? 

Mrs. Raleigh. This is blackmail! Very well, 
Clara, if you’ll stay, I’l give you my yellow silk 
dress. 

Clara. And there’s the hat with the plumes 
in it. 

Mrs. Raleigh. No, you shan’t have the hat! 

Clara. (In phone) I think I’ll accept your 
offer, Mrs. Brown- 

Mrs. Raleigh. No, no, Clara, — take the hat, too! 
We can’t get along without you! 

Clara. Oh, thank you, Mrs. Raleigh. (In 
phone) No, I can’t work for you, Mrs. Brown— 
There’s no argufication, ma’m. The yellow-silk and 
the plumed hat is the final word! (She hangs up 
the receiver) 

h ait ii. (Aside) Sugar comes high ! 



LOVE’S SERVICE ELAG 


27 


Mrs. Raleigh. But we must*have it! 

Faith. Now for our rehearsal. Our first tableaux 
is DAUGHTERS OF LIBERTY. (Faith pulls 
the curtain-cord and parts the curtains half way. 
An American flag has been hung over the window. 
Before it stand Madeleine, dressed as Columbia, 
and Fifi. dressed as France, their arms over each 
others shoulders. Clara sits l. front and applauds 
loudly. Mrs. Raleigh sits at r. She and Faith 
applaud. Faith closes the curtains again) 

Faith. The next is THE MOTHER’S GIFT. 
(She pulls the curtains open again, showing Gerald 
between Martha and Madeleine; Martha, the 
mother, offering her son to Columbia. The others 
applaud, and Faith closes the curtains ) 

Note: Here, if desired, a series of patriotic tab¬ 
leaux may be introduced, using any available 
number of girls and men. If this is to be done, 
the extra characters should enter r. when 
Madeleine says “ All ready, everybody,” Page 
2 5. They should go behind the curtain at once. 
They should come out from behind the 
curtain and exit l. after the curtain closes. 
At conclusion of the extra tableaux, if used, 
Fifi comes out from behind the curtains, in 
her own dress. 

Fifi. I can stand siz no longer, I want ze love 
an’ not ze flnizhing-school! I bid you adieu. I go 
back to my France! Oh, t’witt, t’witt! 

(Madeleine and Gerald come out from behind the 

curtains .) 

Madeleine. Wait, Fifi. Why did you call me 
your fiance when I wore a uniform? 

Fifi. You were ze living image of ze man I am 
engaged to marry. T’witt, t’witt! 



28 


LOVE’S SERVICE FLAG 


Madeleine. Why do you keep saying t’witt ? 

Fifi. Eet ees ze name of my fiance, ze man who 
adore me, who tell me his mother adore me, too. 

Madeleine. You don’t mean—deWitt? 

Fifi. Oui, oui,—T’witt, T’witt. 

Madeleine. My brother, deWitt! Mother, it’s 
the girl deWitt is engaged to marry! 

Mrs. Raleigh. Do you recognize this photograph 
of my son? (She takes a photograph from the 
desk and shows it to Fifi. Fifi takes it zvith a 
happy cry and presses it to her lips) 

Fifi. Eet ess he! My lover, my fiance. My 
adored T’witt! 

Madeleine. No wonder you thought I looked 
like him. We do look alike! 

Mrs. Raleigh. You are engaged to marry my 
son ? 

Fifi. ’Ave I not again an’ again tell you so? 
He write you zat he was sending me to you, he call 
me his leetle souvenir, he say he captured me. 

Madeleine. Yes, that’s what he said in the letter 
that was censored; we couldn’t make head nor tail 
of it. We thought you were the Red Cross baby! 

Fifi. (To Mrs. Raleigh) See, I wear his ring. 
You know it ? 

Mrs. Raleigh. (As she looks at the ring which 
Fifi ‘wears) My son’s ring! So. little Fifi, you are 
to be my daughter. (She takes Fifi: in her arms) 

Fifi. My American Mama! (She kisses Mrs. 
Raleigh) 

Mrs. Raleigh. You shall never starve for love 
again. Come. (Mrs. Raleigh and Fifi exit r. 
Anderson enters r. bowing as he lets Mrs. Raleigh 
pass. Madeleine sees Anderson, puts her fingers 
on her lips and steps between the curtains and out 
of sight) 

Anderson. Is Miss Raleigh here? 

Clara. This way, sir! (Clara exifs l.) 


LOVE’S SERVICE FLAG 


29 


Anderson. I’ll find Miss Raleigh if I have to 
camp here for a week! (He crosses and exits 
l. after Clara. Madeleine comes out from be- 
tween the curtains , runs r. ‘with a laugh, and exits 

»•) 

Gerald. Faith, won’t you repent and say you’ll 
marry me ? 

Faith. You must choose between me and war! 

(Martha comes quietly out from between the cur¬ 
tains. ) 

Martha. {To Faith) If you really loved him, 
you would want him to go to war. 

Faith. Have you a son at the front, Mrs. Daw¬ 
son ? 

Martha. No. 

Faith. It’s easy for you to talk as you do, when 
you have no one to lose. You don’t know what a 
great love it takes to make such a sacrifice. 

Martha. Look. {She shows a medal which she 
zvears pinned on her waist) 

Gerald. An army service-medal. 

Martha. It was taken from the breast of my 
son—who was killed on a battlefield in France. And 
I am glad that he died fighting for his country. 
(Martha moves r. Faith hesitates , then turns to 
Gerald) 

Faith. Gerry, I will marry you! 

Gerald. And let me go to war? 

Faith. I want you to go. 

Gerald. Faith! {As he takes her in his arms, 
Letetia sticks her head out from betzveen the cur¬ 
tains) 

Letetia. You faithless boy! (She comes out 
from behind the curtains in her own dress. Fifi 
and Mrs. Raleigh enter r., their arms about one 
another. Letetia addresses them) I think we 


30 


LOVE’S SERVICE FLAG 


should end our tableaux with a spectacular battle- 
picture entitled VICTORY or THE SLEPRISn. 
ENGAGEMENT. * 

Mrs. Raleigh. The Surprise Engagement? 

Letetia. Yes. We can — (She is interrupted by a 
crash of breaking-glass. 1 hey all turn , startled. 
Fifi pulls the curtain-cord; the curtains slide open 
showing Madeleine in the arms of Major Ander¬ 
son. Back of them the window is seen in frag¬ 
ments) 

Gerald. The surprise engagement! 

(Anderson releases Madeleine.) 

Mrs. Raleigh. I hope it is an engagement this 
time, Major Anderson! 

Anderson. I hope so. (To Madeleine) What 
do you say, Madeleine ? 

Madeleine. Salute your superior officer! (She 
raises her face to his. As Anderson starts to kiss 
her, Clara enters l. wearing the yellow silk dress 
and the plumed hat) 

Clara. It’s the grand news I’ve got for ye, Mrs. 
Raleigh! Me Joe’s left the grocery-store and has 
gone and enlisted in the army! 

Mrs. Raleigh.. Then we’ll get no more sugar! 
Oh, my yellow silk, my plumed hat! (She sinks to 
chair) 

Madeleine. Remember, Mother, that where 
there’s true love, there’s plenty of- 

Anderson, Gerald, Faith, Fifi and Letetia. 
Sugar! (Anderson kisses Madeleine; Gerald 
kisses Faith : Fifi leans over and kisses Mrs. 
Raleigh as Letetia raises one of Gerald’s hands to 
her lips. Clara takes out a vanity-box and prinks) 


Curtain. 











